Housing Authority of the County of Lake
Section 8 Program
OBLIGATIONS OF A PARTICIPANT FAMILY
(a) Purpose. The obligations of a participant family in the Section 8 rental assistance program are listed below. (Section 982.551 of the HUD regulations).
(b) Supplying required information.
(1) The family must supply any information that the Authority or HUD determines is necessary in the administration of the program, including submission of required evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status (as provided by 24 CFR Part 5). "Information" includes any requested certification, release or other documentation.
(2) The family must supply any information requested by the PHA or HUD for use in a regularly scheduled reexamination or interim reexamination of family income and composition in accordance with HUD requirements.
I understand, I must report to the Housing Authority WITHIN 10 DAYS IN WRITING ANY JOB CHANGE, ANY CHANGE IN INCOME AND/OR ASSETS, ALLOWANCES, OR if I begin engaging in the selling of goods or services. This includes reporting benefits and other non-earned income paid on behalf of minors and ALL income from household members when they reach the age of 18 (including full time students).
I realize I am liable to pay at least 30 percent of my household income for rent. My rent increase may be retroactive (1) to provide for a regulation-required 30 day written notice of increase; or (2) for failure to notify the Authority in writing within 10 days of an increase in household income as required (increase will be effective retroactive to 1st of month following date increase was received). I understand that failure to receive an adjustment in my portion of the rent due to any change in my household income does not relieve me of my obligation to pay the amount as of the date the change should have been effective.
Witness/LCHA Staff Member & Date
Participant’s Signature & Date
(See (h)(2) below regarding obligation to report change in family composition.)
(3) The family must disclose and verify social security numbers (as provided by part 5, subpart B, of this title) and must sign and submit consent forms for obtaining information in accordance with part 5, subpart B of this title.
(4) Any information supplied by the family must be true and complete. Willfully making or causing to be made false statements or misrepresentations constitutes fraud.
(c) HQS breach caused by the family. The family is responsible for a HQS breach caused by the family as described in the HUD regulations at 982.404(b):
a. Failing to pay for any utilities that the owner is not required to pay for but which are to be paid by the tenant;
b. Failing to provide and maintain any appliances that the owner is not required to provide, but which are to be provided by the tenant; or
c. Any member of the household or guest damages the dwelling unit premises beyond ordinary wear and tear.
If a HQS breach caused by the family is life threatening, the family must correct the defect within 24 hours. For other family-caused defects, the family must correct the defect within no more than 30 calendar days or any Authority-approved extension.
(d) Allowing PHA inspection. The family must allow the Authority to inspect the unit at reasonable times after reasonable notice.
(e) Violation of lease. The family may not commit any serious or repeated violation of the lease.
(f) Family notice of move or lease termination. The family must notify the Authority and the owner before the family moves out of the unit or terminates the lease on notice to the owner (Section 982.314(d) of the HUD regulations).
The family may not move during the initial term of the lease and must comply with subsequent lease terms as stated in the lease. Termination of the initial lease term or subsequent lease terms may occur if the Authority has terminated the housing assistance payments contract with landlord based on the landlord's breach of the contract.
(g) Owner eviction notice. The family must promptly give the Authority a copy of any owner eviction notice.
(h) Use and occupancy of unit:
(1) The family must use the assisted unit for residence by the family. The unit must be the family's only residence.
(2) The composition of the assisted family residing in the unit must be approved by the Authority. The family must promptly inform the Authority (in writing within ten (10) days) of the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child.
The family must request AUTHORITY APPROVAL to add any other person as an occupant of the unit BEFORE THAT PERSON MOVES INTO THE ASSISTED UNIT! In addition, the Authority requires the landlord's approval to add this family member to the existing lease.
(3) The family must promptly notify the Authority if any family member no longer resides in the unit.
I have read and understand my obligations regarding obtaining permission from the Authority before permitting anyone else to live with me. I also understand my obligation to inform the Authority in writing within 10 days of the birth of a child, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child. I further understand I must also report in writing with ten (10) days if a family member leaves the unit.
Witness/LCHA Staff Member & Date
Participant’s Signature & Date
(4) The family must obtain approval from the Authority in order to have a foster child or a live-in aide reside in the unit.
(5) Members of the household may engage in legal profit making activities in the unit, but only if such activities are incidental to primary use of the unit for residence by members of the family.
The owner's lease will be the controlling factor for such use by the family.
(6) The family must not sublease or let the unit.
(7) The family must not assign the lease or transfer the unit.
(i) Absence from the unit. In not less than seven (7) days, the family must notify the Housing Authority of its absence from the unit. The family must supply any information or certification requested by the Authority to verify that the family is living in the unit, including any Authority-requested information or certification on the purposes of family absences. The family must cooperate with the Authority for this purpose.
(j) Interest in the unit. The family must not own or have any interest in the unit - other than a manufactured home for which the family receives assistance for the space the manufactured home occupies. If the owner is a cooperative, the family may be a member of the cooperative.
(k) Fraud and other program violations. The members of the family must not commit fraud, bribery or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the program.
(l) Crime by family members. The members of the family may not engage in drug-related criminal activity, or violent criminal activity. The family may be terminated from the program even if there was no arrest or conviction. Such activity does not have to take place in the assisted unit. (See Section 982.553)
(m) Other housing assistance. An assisted family, or members of the family, may not receive Section 8 tenant-based assistance while receiving another housing subsidy, for the same unit or for a different unit, under any duplicative (as determined by HUD or in accordance with HUD or in accordance with HUD requirements) federal, State or local housing assistance programs.
For your information:
1. You are required to reimburse monies to this or any other housing authority. Failure to do so may result in loss of housing assistance.
2. The Authority must not approve a unit if the owner is the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister or brother of any member of the family, unless the Authority determines that approving the unit would provide reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities.
I have read and understand the obligations listed above. I realize that failure to comply with any of these obligations may cause termination of my housing assistance payments.
Signature(s):_________________________________
Name & Date_________________________________
Name & Date__________________________________
Name & Date__________________________________
Name & Date__________________________________
PLEASE NOTE
EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS FORM